Lviv, Ukraine, 28 May 2025 – Forum of Slovenian-Ukrainian Cooperation officially opened today in Lviv, bringing together over 80 participants from Ukraine, Slovenia, and wider for three days of dialogue, knowledge exchange, and cooperation. Organised by the Centre for European Perspective (CEP), with the support of U-LEAD with Europe programme and City of Lviv, the Forum is a cornerstone of the CEP Programme “Recovery and Reconstruction in Ukraine”, supporting local resilience through international municipal partnerships.

With Ukraine’s recovery and EU path deeply interconnected, the Forum serves as a platform for transforming solidarity into action, across topics such as housing, waste management, decentralised governance, and European integration.

The Forum began with addresses by Lviv’s Mayor Andriy Sadovyi, Deputy Minister Oleksii Riabykin, and Slovenia’s State Secretary Srečko Đurov. Oleksandr Korniienko, First Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada, delivered a keynote address underlining the central role of Ukrainian municipalities in recovery efforts.

During the opening part of the event, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia and the German GIZ, confirming a strong framework for cooperation and support in Ukraine through CEP’s “Recovery and Reconstruction in Ukraine” programme. At the heart of the Forum are the International Municipal Partnerships, an initiative that connects municipalities like Kočevje, Hrastnik, Pereschepyne, and Drohobych to share policy expertise and implement locally led reforms.

In a dedicated panel, Slovenian and Ukrainian mayors exchanged experiences in tackling pressing local needs from housing strategies to rebuilding infrastructure and restoring citizen trust in public services.

Another key side event launched the pilot project “Establishing a Sustainable Waste Management System in Samar Raion” in Pereschepyne. The session with mayors of the Samar Raion explored both the local challenges (such as landfill overuse, lack of funding and war-induced waste) and lessons learned from Slovenia’s transformation into an EU waste management powerhouse.

The Forum also highlights Slovenia’s strategic role in supporting Ukraine’s EU accession negotiations, through a side panel titled “Ukraine’s Path Toward the EU”. Participants from the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, Slovenian Ministry for Cohesion, and the European Parliament shared insights on how Ukraine can build the institutional capacity to navigate complex EU processes.

On 30 May, the Forum will host a dedicated panel on housing policy with officials and experts from Lviv, CEDOS, Drohobych, and Hrastnik. The discussion will highlight how municipalities are addressing the housing crisis, including for internally displaced persons.